Kuriakose Elias Chavara Study House
| Abbreviation | KECSH |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2 June 2014 |
| Founder | Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) |
| Type | Religious Educational Institution |
| Legal status | Active |
| Purpose | Priestly formation and theological studies |
Region served | India |
Official language | English, Malayalam |
Rector | Rev. Fr. Varghese Vithayathil, CMI |
Director | Sebastian Mullooparampil, CMI |
Parent organisation | Carmelites of Mary Immaculate |
| Affiliations | Catholic Church |
| Website | dvk.in/studyhouse |
Kuriakose Elias Chavara Study House (KECSH) is a Catholic priestly formation institute located on the campus of Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram (DVK) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Established in 2014, it provides residential and formative support for seminarians from various dioceses and religious congregations who are enrolled at DVK but do not have their own formation houses in the city.[1][2]
History
KECSH was founded on 2 June 2014 during the canonization year of its patron, Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara. It was established to serve as a study house offering formation and community life for theology and philosophy students who attend classes at DVK.[3]
KECSH operates within the academic and spiritual framework of Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram (DVK), a pontifical athenaeum of philosophy, theology, and canon law, affiliated with the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education. All KECSH students are officially enrolled at DVK for their academic studies.
The study house is also closely associated with Dharmaram College, the CMI major seminary and parent institution of DVK. KECSH students participate in the liturgical, spiritual, and academic events held at Dharmaram College and benefit from shared facilities such as:
- DVK Central Library and Dharmaram College Library
- Community liturgies and spiritual direction
- Inter-collegiate programs and seminars
This association ensures that KECSH students receive holistic formation—spiritual, intellectual, pastoral, and communal—aligned with the standards of Catholic seminary education.[2]
Administration
KECSH is managed by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). The current director is Sebastain Mullooparampil, CMI. He oversees spiritual formation, discipline, and academic coordination.[3]
Formation and Academic Programs
KECSH focuses on integral priestly formation. Its programs include:
- Human and spiritual development
- Philosophical and theological education (via DVK)
- Cultural and pastoral ministry training
KECSH students receive degrees and diplomas from DVK. In addition, scholarships are available for deserving students, named after CMI founders Fr. Thomas Palackal, Fr. Thomas Porukara, and St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara.[3]
References
- ^ "Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram". dvk.in. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
- ^ a b "Dharmaram College - KECSH". www.dharmaram.in. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ^ a b c Study House – Kuriakose Elias Chavara Study House, DVK Official Website